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# A Return toYour Essence

Ardèche 3 hours from Paris.

You have understood yourself enough.
Come experience yourself.
Four days in the wild of Ardèche to get out of your usual life, back into your senses, and closer to what feels unmistakably yours.
Apply to Join
29 October to 1 November 2026 · Ardèche, France · 16 participants
The starting point

##

## From managing your life

## to experience life itself.

Some parts of you can only be met through experience.
Your body. Your instinct. Your voice before you edit it. Your desire before you explain it.

The part of you that knows when something is a yes.
The part that knows when it is a no. Your capacity to play. To be surprised. To be moved.

But to create the conditions for something else to happen:

  • enough space to slow down
  • enough beauty to open
  • enough intensity to interrupt the familiar
  • enough freedom to surprise yourself

And four days to experience parts of yourself that everyday life rarely gives you access to.
Step out of the life you already know

## For four days,

## life moves differently.

We leave the city. We put down the screens.
We enter an old artists' residence surrounded by the wild landscape of Ardèche. And for four days, life becomes simpler.

> Held with intention. Left open to life. Alive by nature.

We create the conditions. The experience does the rest.
We create:

  • The architecture
  • The practices
  • The rhythm
  • The agreements
  • The people holding the space
  • The place
  • The music
  • The rituals

##

### Sacred

The moments when everything becomes quiet enough to actually notice what is happening. Silence. Meditation. Ritual. Nature. Song. Attention. Presence. Not spirituality as identity. Not performing depth. Something simpler. Being completely here.

### Wild

Making contact with the parts of you that existed before everything had to be controlled, useful, productive or socially acceptable. Movement. Voice. Instinct. Cold water. Dance. Desire. Play. Curiosity. The possibility of surprising yourself again.

### Mystic

A room singing together. Looking into someone's eyes and suddenly noticing that you stopped performing. Standing barefoot outside at night. A conversation that becomes real. Dancing until you stop monitoring yourself. Silence becoming louder than thought. You do not need to believe anything. You need to experience it.
The Thresholds We Cross

## What we explore together.

◆

### Returning to What Is Alive

Stepping away from screens. From the imposed rhythm. From the mind. Returning to the body. To sensation. To nature. To presence.
◆

### Connecting to Your Truth

Creating enough space to hear what is seeking to emerge. A decision. A desire. A direction. A truth long postponed.
◆

### Exploring Intimacy

The essence of intimacy is not becoming closer to someone else. It is to grow closer to yourself while being in relationship with the other.
◆

### Daring to Be Fully Yourself

Daring to express it: through dance, voice, movement, presence. Reclaiming your singularity. Reclaiming your freedom of expression.
The Practices

### Body

Kundalini Yoga. Somatic movement. Breathwork. Ecstatic dance. Cold river immersion. Rest. Presence.
What happens when your movements become less controlled?

### Expression

Voice. Movement. Creative exploration. Authentic expression. Play.
What happens when you stop constantly adjusting yourself to the room?

### Connection

Tantra. Partner practices. Authentic relating. Circles. Witnessing. Intimacy.
Intimacy as the capacity to remain fully seen while another human being is actually there.

### Shadow

Shadow work. Parts we learn to hide because they are inconvenient, excessive, strange or difficult to explain.
Not to glorify every impulse. To become more honest about what is actually there.

### The Unknown

Meditation. Chant. Ritual. Silence. Nature. Live music. Drum journeys. Ceremonial spaces.
Not everything needs to become a conclusion. Sometimes the experience itself is enough.

## You may belong here if

  • You have already done significant inner work. You are curious. You are self aware. Your life functions, but you want to feel more alive inside it.
  • You are tired of constantly observing, analysing or improving yourself. You want more play. More creativity. More honesty. More sensation. More contact.
  • You want to trust yourself without needing certainty first. You want to explore intimacy without abandoning yourself. You want to truly meet people beyond networking, roles and polite conversation.
  • You want to be around artists, creatives, entrepreneurs, seekers and people who refuse to live on autopilot. You don't need another teacher telling you what to think. You want an experience.

And some part of you keeps asking: what would happen if I stopped holding so much of myself back?

## This is probably not for you if

  • You are looking for a passive wellness weekend.
  • You want a retreat focused primarily on relaxation.
  • You want someone else to give you all the answers.
  • You expect every practice to be comfortable.
  • You are unwilling to take responsibility for yourself.
  • You want a guaranteed personal transformation.

Sacred Wild & Mystic asks something from you.
Presence. Curiosity. Responsibility. Participation.
What May Become Possible

## You may leave with greater clarityabout what you actually want.

  • You may notice your body before your mind builds an argument.
  • You may express something you have been editing for too long.
  • You may rediscover parts of yourself that became buried under productivity, responsibility or habit.
  • You may feel freer in your voice. Your movement. Your creativity. Your relationships.
  • You may experience what it feels like to meet people without immediately constructing a role.
  • You may play more than you have in months.
  • You may simply remember how good it feels to be completely present inside your own experience.

We cannot tell you exactly what these four days will reveal. And we would distrust anyone who could.
A Unique Immersion

## More than a retreat,a true journey.

Song → Vulnerability → Intimacy → Truth → Courage
Each one nourishes the next. And courage allows something new to emerge.
This is not about becoming someone else.
It is about returning to what is already there.
The Experience

## One practicefeeds the next.

A morning of breath and Kundalini may move into cold water in the river. Lunch creates space. An afternoon may bring somatic movement, shadow exploration, voice, intimacy or creative shamanic play.
Evenings have their own rhythm: live music, chant, ritual, tantra, a fire, a Temple Night, dance, silence.
The schedule provides direction.
Example Program

## Our last immersion.

### Day1

  • Opening ceremony
  • Connection ritual (Tantra) · SELVA guidance sounds
  • Dinner
  • Rapé circle · Fire ritual

### Day2

  • Breathwork · Cold river bathing
  • Kundalini Yoga · Bruno live
  • Lunch
  • Cacao · Somatic Movement · SELVA sounds
  • Shadow Work
  • Dinner · Kirtan Kriya · Bruno live

### Day3

  • Kundalini · Bruno live
  • Tantra · Transmissions
  • Lunch · Free time
  • Workshops
  • Dinner
  • Temple Night · SELVA live sound

### Day4

  • Cacao ceremony · Bruno live
  • Ecstatic Dance · SELVA DJ set
  • Echoes of the Self · SELVA live (100 min)
  • NLP · Closing circle
  • Final brunch

Each edition is unique. The program evolves based on the group and what seeks to emerge collectively.
The Place

## Ardèche, France.

An old artists' residence surrounded by nature. A house with history. A river nearby. Shared tables. Music moving through the rooms. Places to gather. Places to disappear for a moment. Space to breathe. Space to move. Space to notice yourself again.
For four days, there is no commute between "the retreat" and ordinary life. We live there together. We eat there. Practise there. Rest there. Meet there. The place becomes part of the experience.

> The real luxury is not excess. It is space. Time. Beauty. Nature. Attention. And sixteen people with nowhere more important to be.

### Why only 16 people?

Because anonymity changes a room. Because intimacy requires scale. Because connection becomes different when you know everyone's face. Because every presence influences the experience. And because we are interested in depth, not volume.
Applications are read individually. We are not selecting the most spiritual people. We are looking for people who are: curious, responsible, engaged, open, self aware, and willing to participate.
The Four Days

## An immersive journey,one day at a time.

  1. 01

### Descent

Arrival, grounding, and first meeting with the group. We build together the container of trust that makes everything else possible.
2. 02

### Depth

The practices intensify. The mind begins to quiet. The body takes over. The layers open.
3. 03

### Opening

The heart opens. Vulnerability becomes strength. The community becomes real. What you've been keeping hidden begins to find its place.
4. 04

### Integration & Commitment

Before you leave, you choose. One uncomfortable action. One courageous conversation. One public commitment to yourself. What you carry home, beyond the retreat.

Throughout: SELVA's live sound architecture moves through every session, every ceremony, every transition, holding the container open, making the unspeakable speakable.
40 day ritual. The retreat doesn't end on the last day. A 40 day ritual accompanies your integration, anchoring the shifts into daily life.
What Participants Say

## Experiences thatare never forgotten.

> "I found an indefinable magic in the place, the activities, every moment of this retreat with this group. A pure connection, a genuine curiosity, a rare uniqueness. And all without any substance. Like a dive into the unknown that turns out delicious and wonderful! I feel deep gratitude for these moments of surrender, discovery and intense joy that will stay with me."

Thierry

> "It was truly superb. I was able to go deep into my vulnerability, my fears and my wounds. Beyond limits I thought I had already pushed far enough."

Juliette

> "This retreat reconnected me with humans, the real ones. It nourished my heart and, I'm certain, changed the trajectory of my life in the long run."

Antoine

> "I felt like I was discovering a part of life, after 36 years on Earth. The capacity to be connected to one another completely disoriented me. Very strong and powerful."

Vincent

> "A saving experience, intense, powerful yet liberating and healing. An acceleration toward meeting ourselves, that brings the truth deep inside to the surface."

Julie

> "I discovered myself through at least four or five different aspects. The retreat was so rich in varied experiences. 10/10 without hesitation."

Nine

> "Deep, human, alive, regenerating, innovative and artistic. A capacity to seize the present moment to change what needs to change."

Alexandre
A first: live sound architecture for the entire retreat

## The music guidesthe immersion.

SELVA, sound alchemist, producer, and live performer, will be present for the entire retreat, creating live music that moves with the experience itself.
SELVA is a sound alchemist, producer, and live performer operating at the intersection of electronic music, frequency science, and ceremony.
His work moves between driving downtempo live sets with organic percussion and electronic architecture, and precision crafted sound journeys designed to guide audiences into states of deep presence, restoration, and expanded awareness.
Performed atBurning Man · Las Dalias Ibiza · Six Senses · Hedoné Germany · SACBE · Astral Plan Paris
Shared stages withLemurian · Oveous · Tony L. Issac · MOM
Curated lineups alongsideJo.Ke · Viken Arman · Monolink
Instagram[@selva.wav](https://www.instagram.com/selva.wav)
His presence throughout the retreat means every session is held in a sonic field built specifically for the work. Echoes of the Self, his live 100 minute sound architecture, will run as a dedicated ceremony during the retreat.
With

## The People Holdingthe Experience

### Ophélie Duvillard

Teacher · Alchemy & Intimacy
Trained in coaching at HEC Paris, Ophélie then traveled the world to study with masters of consciousness and transformation — from shamanism to initiatic sexuality.
Since 2021, she has created initiatic spaces across Europe: 19+ retreats and more than 200 people guided. She guides each person toward their truth, their sensuality, and their deep inner freedom.
She opens spaces to reveal:

  • Raw truth.
  • Buried desire.
  • The power waiting to be claimed.

### Dorcas Coppin

Actress · Facilitator · Co-founder
Her work lives in the body, on stage and in the spaces she holds through Kundalini Yoga, breathwork and dance. What she offers isn't a technique, it's a return: to our breath, our instincts, our joy.
As a performer, she knows what it means to inhabit a feeling fully. As a facilitator, she brings that same permission to others: to feel without editing, to move without explaining, to let the body lead.
Her spaces are playful and alive, but never surface-level. Joy, for her, is not the opposite of depth. It's often what depth makes room for.

### Bruno Arcaine

Musician · Vocal Liberation
Bruno has explored music since childhood, blending voice and sound with a sensibility shaped by his path through cinema. Between Paris and Ibiza, he guides people toward vocal liberation through spaces of expression and creativity.
He guides:

  • Spaces where freeing the voice becomes a path back to oneself.
  • Journeys into vocal roots, between improvisation, intuitive chant and singing circles.

### SELVA

Sound Alchemist
SELVA is a sound alchemist, producer, and live performer operating at the intersection of electronic music, frequency science, and ceremony. His presence throughout the retreat means every session is held in a sonic field built specifically for the work.
Practical Details

### Dates

29 October to 1 November 2026

### Location

Saint Sauveur de Montagut, Ardèche
Approx. 45 minutes from Valence TGV station. A WhatsApp group is created before the retreat to organise shared transport.

### Format

Four day residential immersion. 16 participants maximum.

### Included

Accommodation, all vegetarian meals from the first dinner to the final brunch, snacks and herbal teas, all practices and workshops, musicians and invited artists, access to all shared retreat spaces. Not included: transport to and from the residence.

## Accommodation

### Shared Room

€880per person
Non mixed shared room. King or twin beds depending on configuration. Accommodation, meals, all practices and workshops.

### Room With a Person of Your Choice

€770per person
Queen bed. Available when the room is booked together with your chosen roommate. Accommodation, meals, all practices and workshops.

### Private Room

€1,770private solo room, subject to availability
Accommodation, meals, all practices and workshops.
A €300 deposit is required to confirm your place after acceptance. The remaining balance must be paid according to the booking terms. The most desirable rooms are allocated in order of confirmed registration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I come alone?
Yes. Most participants arrive alone. The group becomes part of the experience — sixteen people meeting each other for real, beyond roles and polite conversation.
Is this retreat only for women?
No. The retreat is open to all. Shared rooms are non mixed, and every practice is held with clear agreements and respect for each person's boundaries.
Do I need experience with tantra, Kundalini Yoga or shadow work?
No. Every practice is guided step by step. Curiosity and willingness to participate matter more than experience.
What does tantra mean here?
Here, tantra means presence, attention and connection: practices of breath, eye contact and conscious relating. It is not sexual practice. Your boundaries remain yours at every moment.
What happens if I don't want to participate in something?
You can say no, observe, step out of any practice, or change your mind at any time. We are interested in honest participation, not compliance.
Is the programme fixed?
The architecture is set: the practices, the rhythm, the agreements, the people holding the space. Inside it, the content evolves with the group. Every edition is different.
Is this therapy?
No. This is not therapy and does not replace it. It is an immersive experience designed for functioning adults who take responsibility for themselves.
You do not need another version of yourself to become. You do not need to arrive healed. Fearless. Perfectly open. Completely clear.
You can arrive exactly where you are.
But come willing to participate.
Come curious. Come ready to leave some of your usual answers behind. Come willing to meet people.

  • To Move
  • To Feel
  • To Play
  • To Say No
  • To Say Yes
  • To Be Surprised

To let four days be four days, not another project to optimise.

## You have understood yourself enough.Come experience yourself.

Apply to Join
Sacred, Wild & Mystic · Immersion
Ardèche, France · 16 Participants

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